Mouth-protecting device



Oct. 21, 1952 H. P. LEE v 2,614,560

MOUTH-PROTECTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 2, 1950 Patented Oct. 21, 195 2 Hans Lee, Toledo, Ohio Application November 2, 195 0, Serial No. 193,569

This invention relates to; amouth protecting I device, for insertion in a patients mouth to protect his or-her teeth, tongue and lips duringconvulsions, such as for example those created byv respiration. Furthermore, such" an insert or mouth prop may be "chewed to bits during the convulsion. Y Y

It is. an object ofthis invention to provide" a new, simple, effective, efficient, comfortable and economical mouth-protecting device for use during convulsions, which has the following advantages:

teeth, thus preventing it from being injured by biting.

b. It pushes the lips and checks away from the teeth, again preventing injury by biting.

c. It provides means whereby the force of the biting action on the part of the patient can be applied at the most desirable points bilaterally between the jaws, thus protecting the weaker teeth, and preventing dislocation of the jaw.

- d. It provides an airway for respiration through the mouth.

e. It can be sterilized by boiling or immersing in disinfectants and thereby can be used a great many times.

In accordance with this invention, the mouthprotecting device is composed of a semi-resilient material, such as for example rubber, andhas the general overall configuration of a wedged shaped annulus or ring with a pair of protuberobjects of this invention and the manner of attaining them are given more specific disclosure by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

afiord sufficient 6 ol i frol. 128136) a. It pushes the tongue back away from' the.

Fig. l is a plan View of one form ofthe mouthprotecting device;

' Fig. 2 is a section along line 11- 11 of the device in Fig. 1; j

Fig. 3 is a manually deformed plan view of the device in Fig. 1 on a slightly reduced scale; and Fig. 4 is a side view on a slightly reduced scale of the device of Fig. 1 shown in position in ai patients mouth. g g I v Referring to the drawings, the-device com- 'p-rises a relatively straight 'bar-or handleportion In .and an arcuate bowed or mouth in'sertable portion 20. I The handle portion has a rectangu-g lar cross -section H (see Fig. 2); witnnormally fiat parallel ends l2 and [3, flat parallel top and bottom faces l4 and I5, between which is the major thickness of the device, and concave outer and inner sides 16 and I1, respectively, the former or outer side [6 having herein a normal curvature of at least the length of the handle portion from ends 12 to l3, and the latter or inner side I! normally having the curvature of a central hole 18 of lesser diameter than said handle length.

The mouth insertable portion 20 may be considered to bow between the ends of-the handle portion In forming an arcuate portion which merges into the parallel outer end surfaces I2 and I3 on the outside at regions 22 and 23 and with the inner curvature l1 forming the hole I8, which overall configuration produces the devices general annular or ring shape. The mouth insertable portion 20 has less thickness throughout than that of the major thickness of the handle portion ID by being offset from the top and bottom faces I4 and I5 along the rounded edges 22 and 23. From these regions or offsets 22 and 23 the arcuate portion 20 tapers slightly together so that the part most remote from the handle portion ID has the least thickness as well as the least width of any part of the device, as indicated by a cross-sectionregion 24 in Fig. 2.

In other words, the whole configuration of the device could also be considered to be a Wedge shaped annulus or ring with handle protuberances terminating at the end surfaces l2 and I3.

If desired, the device may be deformed to fit wider mouths by squeezing the ends 12 and I3 together between ones thumb 4| and forefinger knuckle 42, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the device can be gripped by the teeth of any patient at the desirable bilateral points between the jaws, i.e. where about the first molars on each side of a patients mouth grip the device across the arcuate portion 20 in regions 25 and. 26.

3 The thinnest and narrowest part or region 24 holds a tongue 30 (see Fig. 4). of a patient in place, and the hole I8 spaces weaker front teeth 3| and 32 and prevents them from grinding against each other during the convulsion. Thus, 5

when the device is properly in place in the patients mouth, lips 33 and 34 of the patient will just touch the offsets 22 and 23 as shown in Fig. 4.

While therepisfdscribed abo'y'eith f principles of this invention in connection with a specific 1o embodiment thereof, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way?" of example, and that other devices prf or ming' the same function, but of slightly different" out side curvature and design, can be madefwitholit' I5 departing from the scope of 1; s invention Ac; cordingly, the present disclosii' snofitdwc'on sidered as a limitation to the scope of-this in vention.

wh usc aimeai a, 1; A manta-pitta ngdti 'co" il t configurat' 3. A device according to claim 1 composedof" rubber.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein said two curved side parts and said arcuate; portion taper toward reduced width as well as-i-thiickness to a point farthest away from said handle portion.

5. A mouth-protecting device composed of a. resilient material' and comprising: a'bar portion. harms asiib'stantially 'reQctaiiig iilaif cross-sectiom providing a handle outside the mouth, and an'. arcuate portion bowed between the ends of said; bg portion thinner than said portion and tapiih'gbotfiiti"thickness and width away from said bariportion to a thinnest and narrowest part thereof oiisaid arcuate portion most remote fromsaidbarportionysaid arcuate portion being insertable in the mouth for being gripped betweenth teeth, and said arcuate portion providing a normally circular hole through the thiclinessfpfs d" V c; Ade'vice' ac drums-to claimjdwherein said" peruqn has aconcaveouter'surfaceopposite" Iceman irons Great Britain .1". -5. Aug: 8'," 1939 

